Key pouch



March 8, 1932. r J. A. PARRELLA 1,848,971

KEY POUCH Filed May 2, 1929 INVENTOR. J06PH A. FARRELL/4 BY &n TTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES ATENT mca JOSEPH A. IPARRELLA, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA KEY roucn Application filed May 2, 1929. Serial No. 359,922.

This invention relates to an improvement in keypouches "of the type adapted to retain a plurality of keys in piled formation by the use of a conventional binding element. It is a well known fact that key pouches now in use retain the keys in such manner that it is difficult to separate any particular key,;especially in the dark. 'It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a key pouch so constructed as to keep one or more'keys separated from the others fo-rready use, and may be quickly and com veniently swung to operative position, with ({{Llt in any way interfering with the other eys. V A further object is to provide such a pouch which, when closed, forms two separate pockets for keys, one for th'osekeys that are constantly being used, andone for those keys g0 thatare used infrequently.

A still further object is the closure means for the pouch, whereby the auxiliary pocket will open first without opening the main pocket, the means for retaining the pockets 2:; closed being so constructed as to permit the auxiliary pocket to'open first with slight pressure, while a slight additional pressure will cause the main pocket to beexposech A further object is to so construct the pouch 39 and its fastenings that the keys in either pocket will not pass intotheother pocket.

A further object is the provision of a pouch of the character described, which is extremely neat in appearance, will not bulge orbecome unshapely, presents. no rough or abrupt edges or corners, liable to catch in the clothing of the user, is easily and quickly operable in the dark, is strong, durable, cheap to manufacture, and highly convenient in use.

Other importantobjectsand advantages of the, invention will be apparent during the course ofthe following description. 7

. In the drawings, V

' sections 11 and 12; The material is cut away positioning of the device in the hand of the Figure 1 is a perspective, View of wheypouch, constructed in'ac cordance with the invention and closed, i F igure 2 is a similar View with the pouch partially open,

Figure 3 is a similar view with the pouch 5 completely open, a Figure l is a view of the pou'nch prior to complete assembly,

Figure 5 is aside elevation'of a'slightly -l modified form of pouch, and, l

Figure '6 is a section taken'on line 6-6 of Figure 5. A I

- Referring to the drawings, specifically, the numeral 10 designates the pouch as a whole, 7 a, formed preferably of leather, although it is obvious other'materials maybe used. The material of the pouch, see particularly Figure 4, is identical at both ends, and adapted to be folded upon the line A A forming side at the top, forming a-notch 13', for a purpose to be described.

As clearly shown,'the sides '11 and 12 have 7 their tops rounded as at 14' and 15, these rounded tops terminating innotches 16and 1 7. The corners are preferably rounded as at 18 and 19. Theedges are provided with rounded thumb or finger engaging'notches 20, 21 and then from these notches,the material is given a long curve to their point of meeting at the bottom. 7 l i The purpose of forming the edges in the manner above described, is to. facilitate the user, whereby the thumb, or finger will be quickly guidedto the point at whichlthe opening operation is to start. For instance, the user taking the device from'his pocket will naturally feel the straight edge and turn the device until his thumb or finger engages the notches 20-21. v r Y The pouch is provided with openings 22 and 23, adapted to align when the device is folded, and are for the reception of'a twopart conventional binder element 24, for pivotally supporting the keys.

The means for retaining the pouch in the closed position comprises a pair of conventional snap buttons 25 and 26, the respective halves of these buttons being carried by the sides 11 and 12. As clearly shown, the snap button 25 is substantially larger and, consequently, stronger than the button 26, the purpose of which is to prevent the entire pouch from opening when it is desired to open only the auxiliary pocket. The button 26 being comparatively light will readily open upon a slight pressure of the thumb, while a grea er pressure will open the entire pouch and expose the contents thereof. It is desired and intended that the snap button 26 be so light as to readily expose the contents of the auxiliary pocket, upon application of pressure upon the edges of the material at substantially any point, excepting the back or folding portion. It is preferable, however, that the operator accustom himself to employing his thumb in the notches 20 and 21 asma-ny persons will, until'familiar with the device, exert so much pressure asto cause the whole pouch to open. However, the degree of success and rapidity at which the device will be successfully operated, depends upon a little practice.

The structure shown in Figure 5 is a slight modification of the preferred form in that the sides 11 and 12 have their edges'curved differently, although the notches 20,and 21 :are still employed. In this form of the invention, a small rivet. 27 may be employed to further assist the snap buttons 25. and 26 in retaining the pouch closed against the expanding force of theikeys held therein. This rivet is sufficiently spaced from the folded portion to permit the material to'expand sufficiently to accommodate the maximum mnn'berpf-ke'ys. Stitching may be substi- .tuted for this rivet, if desired.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that an extremely simple and highlyeflicient and convenient .key pouch has been provided. The exact curvature of the edges may be altered, so long asthe notches 20 and 21 are retained as guiding means forthe thumb of the operator.

The device is particularly efficient where a personis attempting to locate a particular key ina dark place, such as an automobile igmlti'on key or a house key. The auxiliary keys that are being most frequently used, separate from the others. Any'slight openlngpressure upon "the free edges carrying the edge 14=15, notch '16-'17, corner 18-19.

and notches '20-and-21, will be suflicient'to cause the snap button 26 to open, giving-access to the auxiliary pocket, and this operation may be easily' accomplished with one hand. The notched portion 18. will permit of a key being swung rearwardly with its tending between and uniting said walls at a point adjacent the fold, separable snap fasteners for uniting said walls at separate points, to form separate key receiving pockets, one of saidfasteners positioned adjacent said fold being of relatively greater tension than the other. v

2. Akey pouch comprising astrip of flexible material folded upon itself for'forming sides, and provided with finger engaging notches in its free edges, a key supporting post extending through and uniting said sides, separable snap fasteners for uniting said sides at different points to form separate key receiving pockets, one of said fasteners positioned adjacent said-fold being 0fsubi stantially greatertension than the other, said fasteners being positioned sufficiently closeto the key supportingpost as to retain the keys in the separate pockets iagainst accidental shifting.

' 3. A'key pouch formed of a strip'of flexible material folded uponitselffor forming-sides, a key supporting member extending between said sides, a pairof separable snap fasteners for retaining said sides together, said fasteners when in the engaged position adapted to form key receiving pockets, said fasteners sopositioned with respect to the key supporting member as to prevent theshortest key in either pocket accidentally passing into the opposite pocket, andfinger engagingnotohes formedinthe free edges of the sides.

4. A key pouch of the character described, comprising a pair of wall sections formed from a strip of flexible material folded upon itself, a'key supporting means extending between and uniting said sides, separable snap fasteners for retaining the sides together, one

of said fasteners being of substantially greater tension than the other, and'notches formed upon thefree edges ofthe sides for assisting in the opening of the pouch, said hotchesbeing so positioned thatpre'ssure will first be directed upon the tension.

5. A device for holding keys, comprising a pouch formed of a 'flexible sheet folded upon itself for providing a closed edge and an open edge, a supporting post for-the'k'eys passing through the pouch and attached to snap fastener having least 

